New items on the building materials market: glass-magnesium sheet

Recommendation points

• What is glass magnesite sheet made of
• Where can you use LSU
• Pros and cons of LSU
• Practical tips for installing LSU

The glass-magnesium sheet was declared the official material of the Beijing Olympic Games, and was actively used in the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi. In our article we will talk about the everyday use of LSU, its characteristics and give some practical advice.

Glass-magnesium sheets (glass-magnesite sheet, LSU, magnelite) are considered by many experienced builders to be a worthy replacement for classic drywall, actively using this material for interior and exterior decoration. Nevertheless, the overwhelming majority of ordinary people who have started repairs either have not heard of such a novelty at all, or have read a lot of negative reviews and do not want to check the quality of LSU on the walls of their own apartment..

The negative that accompanies the glass-magnesium sheet is caused by a number of objective reasons:

1. The building materials market is very conservative and lazy. The emergence of innovations is not particularly welcomed by the finishing teams – working the old-fashioned way is much easier than studying the characteristics of a new product and learning how to use it correctly.
2. Importing LSU from China, unscrupulous suppliers try to save on cost, often at the expense of quality.
3. In Russia, there are still no uniform standards for the production of LSU, therefore, the technologies of various plants may differ significantly.

Despite the lack of objective information, Chinese magnesite is slowly but surely conquering the borders of domestic construction. Russian enterprises also compete with imported products – LSU is produced in Tyumen, Volgograd, the Moscow region and other regions..

What is glass magnesite sheet made of

The recipe of the composition from which LSU is produced may differ in the percentage of components, but the list of the main components at different plants is almost the same:

1. The main components are magnesium oxide and chloride.
2. Perlite (expanded perlite sand).
3. Filler (fine sawdust).
4. Reinforcing base – fiberglass.
5. Sheet backing – non-woven fabric.

Depending on the grade and purpose of LSU, the molding composition can be supplemented with various modifying additives and plasticizers, and magnesium chloride – replaced by caustic dolomite.

The content of magnesium oxide directly affects the grade of sheets (classes “Standard”, “Premium”, “Facade”, “Interior”): the higher the percentage of the component, the stronger the resulting material.

The outer side of LSU usually has a smooth surface, and the back is slightly rough..

Tip: If you plan to glue wallpaper or paint LSU, then mount it with the smooth side out. If you plan to apply plaster, then choose the back side – the unpolished surface has better adhesion.

Where can you use LSU

Magnesium glass sheet is a versatile finishing material – its various varieties can be used both indoors and for cladding facades:

	Features:	Scope of application	Analogue
Sheet “Standard”	Increased hygroscopicity	Interior finishing of dry rooms	Plasterboard ordinary and moisture resistant
“Premium” sheet	Increased strength and moisture resistance	Interior decoration of premises with high humidity, installation of under-roof carpet, cladding of facades with subsequent finishing	OSB-3, DSP, fiber cement, flat slate, aquapanel, gypsum fiber, chipboard, moisture resistant plasterboard
Facade panel	Painted according to the RAL system	Suspended ventilated facades, external finishing of all types of buildings	Fiber cement facade panels
Panel “Interior”	Painted according to the RAL system, mounted using the Omega profile	Interior finishing of dry rooms	Decorative panels based on MDF, chipboard and drywall

Of the entire range of magnesite products, the premium sheet is the most popular. The optimal combination of technical characteristics and cost allows it to be used in the implementation of diverse construction solutions and tasks:

1. Installation of multi-level ceilings, partitions and floor bases.
2. Refractory erection.
3. Manufacturing of removable and non-removable formwork for monolithic construction.
4. Sandwich panels and building blocks production.

Due to its environmental friendliness and the absence of harmful components, LSU sheets are approved for use in medical and children’s institutions.

Pros and cons of LSU

Among the main advantages of glass-magnesite sheets, manufacturers indicate their incombustibility, moisture resistance, plasticity, excellent adhesion and strength of finished structures. In terms of its technical characteristics, LSU successfully competes with the main alternative materials:

	LSU “Premium”	Fiberboard (hardboard)	Chipboard	Drywall	Gypsum fiber
Cost (corresponds to the minimum size)	from 400 rubles / sheet	from 146 rubles / sheet	from 485 rubles / sheet	from 200 rubles / sheet	from 445 rubles / sheet
Dimensions, m	1.22×2.44, 1.25×2.5	1.22×2.44, 1.7×2.745	2.75×1.83, 3.5×1.75	1.2×2.5, 1.2×3	1.2×2.5
Thickness, mm	6,8,10,12	3.2	sixteen	9.5, 12.5	10, 12.5
Density, kg / m3	~ 1100-1200	850	730	650	720
Sound insulation coefficient, Rw (dB)	44	20	nineteen	35	thirty
Swelling percentage,%	<1	18	22	thirty	thirty
Bending strength in dry condition, mRa	sixteen	38	17	2	five
Wet flexural strength, mRa	sixteen	4	3	0.1	0.3
Thermal conductivity coefficient, W / mK	0.14	0,4	0.37	1.45	1.4

Glass-magnesium sheets of the “Premium” class successfully withstand wind and snow loads, as well as atmospheric precipitation. They can be used for any facade and roofing work with subsequent finishing:

Properties	LSU “Premium”	OSB plate	Cement particle board	Moisture resistant aquapanel
Cost (corresponds to the minimum size), rubles / sheet	from 400	from 450	from 600	from 650
Dimensions, m	1.22×2.44, 1.25×2.5m	1.22×2.44, 1.25×2.5	1.25×2.7, 1.25×3.2	0.9×1.2, 0.9×2.4
Thickness, mm	6,8,10,12	9, 9.5, 10, 12 and above	8,10,12,16,18 and higher	12.5
Flammability class	NG – absolutely non-combustible material	G4 – hardly flammable material	G1 – non-combustible material with long-term fire resistance	G1 – non-combustible material with long-term fire resistance
Moisture resistance	Geometry does not change after being in water	When water hits the ends, the structure is destroyed, swelling is about 15-20%	When exposed to moisture, the sheet “leads”, fastenings are broken with self-tapping screws	Moisture resistant material
Durability	High	High without direct contact with water	High without direct contact with water	High
Sustainability	Natural composition, safe for health	Phenolic adhesives are used, can emit harmful fumes	Natural composition, safe for health	Harmless to health, but can have a rather rich odor

It should be noted that all of the above characteristics refer to premium LSU. Sheets “Standard” and “Economy” are intended only for interior work and use in dry rooms, their use for other purposes leads to a rapid violation of geometry and the appearance of hard-to-remove defects.

Try to purchase LSU from well-known manufacturers and be sure to pay attention to a few points:

1. Quality products have a yellowish or beige tint typical of magnesium oxide. The addition of various fillers – chalk, lime, asbestos – gives a white or grayish color.
2. Run your hand over the surface of the sheet – there should be no fine dust.
3. Check the edges of the sheet – they should be free of chips.
4. If possible, immerse a piece of leaf in water for several hours. Turbidity of the water indicates the poor quality of the magnesite used in the production..
5. Request quality certificates from the seller.

Practical tips for installing LSU

The glass-magnesium sheet is attached using the same technology as drywall, however, some nuances should be taken into account during installation:

1. The sheet should not be wet, otherwise it will quickly deform.
2. For greater strength, the sheets must be positioned so that the fibers are directed vertically.
3. It is better to use gypsum fiber screws as fasteners..
4. Best of all, LSU is cut with an electric jigsaw. In its absence, you can make a small incision with a clerical knife, and then gently break off part of the sheet and grind the edge.
5. When mounting LSU, it is necessary to leave a gap of? from the thickness of the sheet. Seams are sealed with any putty mixture (for example, “Fugenfüller” or “Volma-seam”) or moisture-resistant acrylic sealant.

Magnesium glass sheet is a fairly simple and quick material to install, the use of which does not require special professional skills. The most important thing is to purchase a quality product from a trusted manufacturer and follow the mounting technology. Happy renovation!